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#BS-2004-HONPIL-40CD2004 Honda Pilot
Based on reports from 644 owners and 13 recalls for this exact model.
Preliminary Verdict
Red Flag
Based on 644 complaints, 41 crashes, 19 fires, and 13 recalls. Complaint rate is 5.8x the class average.
Top reported problems
key will not go into the ignition
10 complaints • Severity 8.2/10
d light flashes occasionally
6 complaints • Severity 7.7/10
transmission shudders
6 complaints • Severity 8.7/10
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Mechanic Inspection Checklist
94 owners reported drivetrain issues — failures commonly reported around 104K miles.
Failure Timeline by Mileage
Peak failure range: 90–120K miles (120 reports) • Median: 104K miles
30,000-Mile Cost Projection
Best Case
Most Likely
Worst Case
Top cost driver: Drivetrain (94 reports).
Also in your report
Owner Intelligence
AI-synthesized themes from real complaints
Buyer Lot Checklist
Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers
Negotiation Talking Points
Data-backed dollar deductions
Buy / Skip Verdict
Final recommendation with conditions
Where the complaints fall
2004 Honda Pilot: Known Issues & Problem Areas
Drivetrain Issues
Drivetrain complaints account for 15% of all reports filed for the 2004 Honda Pilot, with 94 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 103,906 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 104K-mile mark.
Seats Issues
Seats complaints account for 12% of all reports filed for the 2004 Honda Pilot, with 79 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to seats-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Airbags Issues
Airbags complaints account for 12% of all reports filed for the 2004 Honda Pilot, with 77 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to airbags-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Electrical Issues
Electrical complaints account for 7% of all reports filed for the 2004 Honda Pilot, with 47 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to electrical-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.
Complaint trend by year
Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2004 Honda Pilot. Recent trend: increasing.
Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own
Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict
Recall History (13 recalls)
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
ON SOME MINI VANS, SPORT UTILITY AND PASSENGER VEHICLES, CERTAIN OPERATING CONDITIONS CAN RESULT IN HEAT BUILD-UP BETWEEN THE COUNTERSHAFT AND SECONDARY SHAFT SECOND GEARS IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, EVENTUALLY LEADING TO GEAR TOOTH CHIPPING OR GEAR BREAKAGE.
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE'S CERTIFICATION LABELS MAY CONTAIN INCORRECT VEHICLE WEIGHT AND TIRE SIZE INFORMATION.
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:CARRIER/RACK
HONDA IS RECALLING 2,032 HITCH STYLE BIKE RACKS SOLD AS AFTERMARKET FOR USE ON MY 2003-2007 AND SOME MY 2008 HONDA PILOT, RIDGELINE, AND ACURA MDX VEHICLES. A PINCH BOLT EXISTS BETWEEN THE BIKE ARM BRACKET AND THE UPRIGHT ASSEMBLY OF THE "HITCH" STYLE BICYCLE RACK.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002 THROUGH 2004 CR-V; MODEL YEAR 2003 THROUGH 2005 PILOT; AND MODEL YEAR 2002 AND 2003 CIVIC VEHICLES. IN MARCH 2012, HONDA FILED A DEFECT REPORT TO RECALL CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002 THROUGH 2004 CR-V AND CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2003 PILOT VEHICLES. IN AUGUST 2012, HONDA INFORMED THE AGENCY THAT IT WAS INCLUDING AN ADDITIONAL 820,789 VEHICLES INCLUDING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004 AND 2005 PILOTS AND MODEL YEAR 2002 AND 2003 CIVICS. THE TOTAL NUMBER OF VEHICLES BEING RECALLED IS NOW 1,375,217. DUE TO TENSION FROM THE COMBINATION SWITCH WIRING HARNESS, WEAR ON THE SURFACE OF THE ELECTRICAL TERMINAL CAN OCCUR, YIELDING COPPER OXIDE, WHICH INCREASES ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE. INCREASED ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE MAY CAUSE THE TERMINAL ENDS TO MELT WITHIN THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
Honda is recalling certain model year 2003 and 2004 Pilot and Odyssey and 2003 through 2006 Acura MDX passenger vehicles manufactured from November 26, 2001, through August 30, 2006. The interlock lever of the ignition switch may deform, which can allow the interlock function of a vehicle with an automatic transmission to be defeated.
+ 8 more recalls in the full report
Recall severity analysis & seller scripts
The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
The worst model year for the Honda Pilot is the 2003 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is engine.
2004 Honda Pilot vs. Class Average (Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD)
This vehicle
644
Class avg
112
5.8x the class average — significantly more complaints than typical sport utility vehicle - 4wd vehicles.
Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.
About this data
NHTSA Complaints
Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 644 records for this vehicle.
NHTSA Recalls
Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 13 recalls found for this vehicle.
Repair Cost Data
Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.
Other Honda Pilot Model Years
View all Honda Pilot years →2004 Honda Pilot: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common problem with the 2004 Honda Pilot?
Is the 2004 Honda Pilot reliable?
How much does it cost to fix 2004 Honda Pilot problems?
Does the 2004 Honda Pilot have any recalls?
What mileage do Honda Pilot problems start?
What’s in the full report?
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
How is this different from Carfax?
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Get the Full 2004 Honda Pilot Report
10 sections of AI analysis based on 644 owner reports. Know before you buy.